Caladium plant named ‘Just Saucy’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘Just Saucy’, characterized by its intermediate to tall height; upright and mounding plant habit; dense and bushy appearance; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; fancy-type leaves that have dark green-colored margins with greyed green and yellow green-colored venation and centers with white and greyed red-colored interveinal areas and random yellow green-colored speckles and flecks and random greyed red-colored spots and blotches; and leaf petioles that are medium green or medium green flushed with a brown tinge in color.

Botanical designation: Caladium X hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘JUST SAUCY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladiumplant, botanically known as Caladium X hortulanum, commercially referredto as a fancy leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name‘Just Saucy’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create newCaladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container andgarden performance and attractive and unique leaf coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in April, 2009 in Avon Park, Fla. of Caladium X hortulanum‘Miss Muffet’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent withCaladium X hortulanum ‘Twist N' Shout’, not patented, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discovered and selected bythe Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in ZolfoSprings, Fla. in September, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by “chipping” the tubers(cutting the tuber into segments with each segment containing anaxillary bud and tuber cortical tissue) in a controlled outdoor nurseryenvironment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. since April, 2011 has shown that theunique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Just Saucy’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Just Saucy’ as a new and distinct Caladiumplant:

-   -   1. Intermediate to tall in height and upright and mounding plant        habit; dense and bushy appearance.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.    -   3. Fancy-type leaves that have dark green-colored margins with        greyed green and yellow green-colored venation and centers with        white and greyed red-colored interveinal areas and random yellow        green-colored speckles and flecks and random greyed red-colored        spots and blotches.    -   4. Petioles that are medium green or medium green flushed with a        brown tinge in color.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent, ‘Miss Muffet’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are taller than plants of ‘Miss        Muffet’.    -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Miss Muffet’ differ in leaf        color as leaves of plants of the new Caladium have dark        green-colored margins with greyed green and yellow green-colored        venation and centers with white and greyed red-colored        interveinal areas and random yellow green-colored speckles and        flecks and random greyed red-colored spots and blotches whereas        leaves of plants of ‘Miss Muffet’ are pale green tinged with        pink in color with a deep reddish pink-colored blush in the        center.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the maleparent, ‘Twist N' Shout’, in leaf color as leaves of plants of the newCaladium have dark green-colored margins with greyed green and yellowgreen-colored venation and centers with white and greyed red-coloredinterveinal areas and random yellow green-colored speckles and flecksand random greyed red-colored spots and blotches whereas leaves ofplants of ‘Twist N' Shout’ are olive green in color with green tocoppery bronze-colored venation and coppery orange-colored spots andblotches. In addition, leaves of plants of the new Caladium are flatterthan and not as undulating as leaves of plants of ‘Twist N' Shout’.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium Xhortulanum ‘Creamsickle’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,991. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Creamsickle’ in leaf color as leaves of plants of thenew Caladium have dark green-colored margins with greyed green andyellow green-colored venation and centers with white and greyedred-colored interveinal areas and random yellow green-colored specklesand flecks and random greyed red-colored spots and blotches whereasleaves of plants of ‘Creamsickle’ have greyed green-colored venation,greyed green and greyed purple-colored interveinal areas interspersedwith dark green-colored sectors and borders. In addition, leaves ofplants of the new Caladium are flatter than and not as undulating asleaves of plants of ‘Creamsickle’.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium Xhortulanum ‘Mesmerized’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,545. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Mesmerized’ in leaf color as leaves of plants of the newCaladium have dark green-colored margins with greyed green and yellowgreen-colored venation and centers with white and greyed red-coloredinterveinal areas and random yellow green-colored speckles and flecksand random greyed red-colored spots and blotches whereas leaves ofplants of ‘Mesmerized’ are variegated with variable areas that are darkgreen, red orange, whitish green and white in color; with development,mature leaves are mostly dark green in color with variable areas ofvariegation and interveinal areas with variably coalescing redorange-colored spots and splotches. In addition, leaves of plants of thenew Caladium are flatter than and not as undulating as leaves of plantsof ‘Mesmerized’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Caladium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Caladium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘Just Saucy’ in a container and grown in a shadehouse(tuber not de-eyed).

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a comparison view oftypical plants of ‘Just Saucy’ grown in containers; the plant on theleft has not had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on the right has hadits tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a side perspectiveview of typical plants of ‘Just Saucy’ grown in an open productionfield.

The photograph at the top of the third sheet is a comparison view oftypical potted plants of the female parent, ‘Miss Muffet’ (left), ‘JustSaucy’ (center) and the male parent, ‘Twist N' Shout’ (right).

The photograph at the bottom of the third sheet is a comparison view oftypical potted plants of ‘Mesmerized’ (left), ‘Just Saucy’ (center) and‘Creamsickle’ (right).

The photograph at the top of the fourth sheet is a close-up view oftypical freshly-harvested tubers with roots and leaf petioles of ‘JustSaucy’.

The photograph at the bottom of the fourth sheet is a close-up view of atypical inflorescence of ‘Just Saucy’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in apolypropylene-covered shadehouse (30% light reduction) in Avon Park,Fla. and plants grown in ground beds under full sunlight conditions inan outdoor nursery in Crewsville, Fla. The plants were grown undercultural practices typical of commercial shadehouse and outdoor nurseryproduction. During the production of the shadehouse-grown plants, daytemperatures ranged from about 28° C. to 33° C., night temperaturesranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. and light levels were about 8,000foot-candles. During the production of the outdoor nursery-grown plants,day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to 35° C., night temperaturesranged from about 23° C. to 26° C. and light levels ranged from 10,000to 12,000 foot-candles. Plants grown in the shadehouse were ten weeksold and plants grown in the outdoor nursery were seven months old whenthe photographs and the detailed description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium X hortulanum ‘Just Saucy’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium X hortulanum ‘Miss            Muffet’, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium X hortulanum ‘Twist N'            Shout’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By “chipping” the tubers.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at            temperatures about 32° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at            temperatures about 24° C.        -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown            plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented; individual segments            elliptic and irregular in shape. Height: About 3.7 cm to            4.1 cm. Diameter: About 5.5 cm to 11.6 cm. Segment height:            About 2.6 cm. Segment diameter: About 2.6 cm. Axillary bud            size: About 3.5 mm by 3.5 mm. Texture: Thick, starchy;            somewhat brittle. Color: Epidermis, freshly-harvested: Close            to 56C and 49C to 49D. Epidermis, dried: Close to 200A.            Cortical tissue: Close to 155D. Axillary buds: Close to 36A            and 37D. Root description: Thick, fleshy contractile roots            with few lateral branches; color, close to N155D. Rooting            habit: Medium density to dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant            in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape            plant in shaded areas.        -   Plant and growth habit.—Intermediate to tall in height and            upright to mounded plant habit; inverted triangle and wider            than tall; dense and bushy appearance; vigorous growth habit            and rapid growth rate; potted plants finish in saleable form            in about seven to eight weeks after planting tubers; leaf            petioles and leaves arise from one or more growing points on            tubers; leaf petioles initially upright and outwardly            leaning with development.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane,            shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 31 cm to 38 cm.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of inflorescences,            shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 37.7 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread, shadehouse-grown potted            plants.—About 41 cm to 46 cm.        -   Number of shoots per plant, shadehouse-grown potted plants,            tubers not de-eyed.—About four to five develop per #1 tuber.        -   Number of shoots per plant, shadehouse-grown potted plants,            tubers de-eyed.—About five to six develop per #1 tuber.        -   Cataphylls, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Length: About 6            cm to 13.2 cm. Width: About 1.6 cm to 1.9 cm. Shape:            Lanceolate or ligulate. Apex: Acute, cuspidate or acuminate.            Base: Sheathing the stem. Color, inner surface: Close to            N155C; colors and patterns on the outer surface are visible            on the inner surface. Color, outer surface: Close to 147A to            147B stippled, streaked and tessellated with close to 200A            to 200B; with development, color becoming closer to 200C            stained with 187B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement and type.—Alternate; simple; fancy-type.        -   Length, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 19 cm to 24            cm.        -   Width, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 12.5 cm to 14.3            cm; when flattened, about 13 cm to 15 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate to slightly obovate.        -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.        -   Base.—Sagittate to peltate.        -   Margin.—Entire; undulate with broad undulations.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Rugose, glabrous; dull.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Slightly rugose,            glabrous; slightly glaucous; dull sheen.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Developing and fully            developed leaves, upper surface: Towards the margins: Close            to 147A. Leaf edge: Close to 147A. Basal notch: Close to            187A. Midvein and primary venation: Close to 149D and 194C;            at the petiole attachment, may or may not tinged with 187A;            areas surrounding venation, close to 155C and 149D.            Interveinal areas: Close to 145C, 145D or 147D with speckles            and flecks, close to 147B and 147C; or close to 178B to            178C. Random spots and blotches: Close to 178A. Developing            and fully developed leaves, lower surface: Background color:            Darker than 191A. Leaf edge: Close to 191A. Basal notch:            Close to 187B. Midvein: Close to 147C and 147D tinged with            145D; proximally, faintly flushed with 182B to 182C; areas            surrounding midvein, close to 155C. Primary venation: Close            to 147D tinged with 145D; areas surrounding primary            venation, close to 155C. Interveinal areas: Close to 145D            and 149D with speckles and flecks, close to 137C and 137D.            Random spots and blotches: Close to 182C.        -   Petioles.—Aspect: Initially upright and straight and            outwardly leaning with development; flexible. Length,            shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 23 cm to 28 cm.            Diameter, distally, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About            3.5 mm to 5 mm. Diameter, proximally, shadehouse-grown            potted plants: About 6.5 mm to 7 mm. Texture and luster:            Smooth, glabrous; dull; just below leaf junction, slightly            glaucous. Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants, when            developing and fully developed: Proximally, close to 147C            flushed with 147A with faint stippling and streaks, close to            147B; may be faintly tinged with 200C; distally (just below            leaf junction), similar to proximal colors but may be tinged            with close to 181C to 181D. Wing length, shadehouse-grown            potted plants: About 4.6 cm to 7.5 cm. Wing diameter,            shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 6 mm to 8.5 mm.            Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; dull. Wing color, shadehouse-grown potted plants:            Inner surface: Close to 155C; colors and patterns on the            outer surface are visible on the inner surface. Outer            surface: Close to 147B and 147C faintly stippled, streaked            and tessellated with 200A.-   Inflorescence description: Inflorescences observed on four week-old    shadehouse-grown potted plants.    -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Upright hooded spathes            surrounding a columnar spadix borne on an upright scape;            spadix with sessile, simple female and male flowers            separated into two zones; female flowers develop on the            proximal one-third of the spadix; male flowers develop on            the distal two-thirds of the spadix; sterile flowers develop            at junction of female and male flower zones; near this            junction, the spathe constricts and surrounds and encloses            the female flowers; spathe open and cupped around male            flowers.        -   Fragrance.—Night-fragrant; jasmine-like with camphor notes.        -   Natural flowering season and flower longevity.—Plants of the            new Caladium typically flower during the spring and summer            in central Florida; flowers develop about four weeks after            growth commences; inflorescences last about three days            before fading; inflorescences persistent.        -   Spathe.—Length, overall: About 12.7 cm. Length, distal open            portion: About 7.7 cm. Length, proximal closed portion:            About 5 cm. Width, distal open portion: About 4.5 cm. Depth,            distal open portion: About 1.8 cm. Width, at constriction:            About 1.3 cm. Width, proximal closed portion: About 3 cm.            Shape, open portion: Broadly elliptic, rounded. Apex:            Acuminate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire; smooth. Texture and            luster, front surface: Smooth, glabrous; dull. Texture and            luster, rear surface: Smooth, glabrous; dull; proximally,            glaucous. Color, front surface: Distal open portion: Close            to 155C; with development, color becoming closer to 199B to            199C. Proximal closed portion: Distally, close to 147C;            towards the base, flushed with close to 187A; color does not            change with development. Color, rear surface: Distal open            portion: Close to 155C; center tinged with close to 145D;            with development, color becoming closer to 199B and N200A.            Proximal closed portion: Close to 147B and 147C; color does            not change with development.        -   Spadix.—Length, overall: About 7.8 cm. Length, male flower            zone: About 4.4 cm. Length, sterile zone: About 1.9 cm.            Length, female flower zone: About 1.5 cm. Diameter, male            flower zone: About 1 cm. Diameter, sterile flower zone:            About 6 mm. Diameter, female flower zone: About 1 cm. Shape:            Columnar, spindle-shaped. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Aspect:            Upright. Color, mature, male zone: Close to 158D. Color,            mature, sterile zone: Close to 158D. Color, mature, female            zone: Close to 159D. Male flowers: Quantity per spadix:            About 208. Shape: Obovate. Height: About 3.5 mm. Diameter:            About 3.5 mm. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close            to 12D. Female flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 204.            Shape: Obovate. Height: About 2.5 mm. Diameter: About            2.5 mm. Stigma color: Close to 159D. Ovary color: Close to            161D.        -   Scape.—Length: About 25 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Strength:            Sturdy; flexible. Aspect: Mostly erect. Texture and luster:            Smooth, glabrous; dull; distally, glaucous. Color: Close to            147C faintly stippled and streaked with 147B; distally,            close to 147C faintly tinged with 146C.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Caladium.-   Pathogen & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been    observed to have average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot and above    average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot. Plants of the new    Caladium have not been observed to have resistance to pests and    other pathogens common to Caladium plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed    to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about    40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11. In cooler    zones, tubers can be “lifted” prior to first freeze and stored in a    cool dry environment to overwinter for re-planting the following    spring.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘Just Saucy’as illustrated and described.